Doctors launch drive against knife crime

Published on Monday 17 November 2008 23:32

DOCTORS who treat stab victims in Glasgow, the "murder capital of Europe", will today launch an unprecedented initiative aimed at educating young people about the dangers of carrying a knife.

More than 60 health workers have joined forces to create Medics Against Violence, a new initiative that will see them give up their time to go into schools across the country and talk to pupils about the horrific consequences of knife crime.

Youngsters will be shown a hard-hitting video featuring shocking images of stab wounds and testimonies from victims.

The project, which is being backed by the World Health Organisation and Scotland's Violence Reduction Unit, reflects growing frustration and anger among doctors who are confronted with the massive human cost of the country's knife culture, which is particularly prevalent in Glasgow and surrounding towns.

The city has a higher rate of murder per head of population than any other in Europe, and about 1,000 patients attend the Glasgow Dental Hospital each year with knife-inflicted facial injuries.

Glasgow's hospitals treat someone with a serious facial injury every six hours.

Dr Christine Goodall, senior lecturer and honorary consultant oral surgeon at Glasgow University Dental School, said an estimated 517 million is spent dealing with the consequences of violent attacks every year.

She said: "Scars caused by knives and other weapons run much deeper than what we see on the surface – they imprint on every part of a victim's life, from personal relationships to getting a job, an imprint that will impact on them every day."

The initiative will initially concentrate on 14-year-old children in schools in Glasgow and Inverclyde. But organisers hope more doctors from across the country will spread the message. It is also anticipated that the video presentations will be extended to youth clubs.

Nicola Sturgeon, the health secretary, paid tribute to those involved in setting up Medics Against Violence.

She said: "Few people know more about the real toll of knife crime than the clinicians who deal with its consequences on the frontline of our NHS."

The film to be shown to pupils will include a real-life testimony from Scott Breslin, who is now quadriplegic as a result of a knife attack. The session will be followed by a group discussion.